Electric generating, transmitting, and distributing system.



F. W. WALKER.

ELECTRIC GENERATING, TRANSMITTING, AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM- APPLIGATION FILED 11017.27, 1911.

15J MMMM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. WALKER, OF PORT WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC GENERATING, TRANSMITTING, AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK lV. lVALKini, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Washington, in the county of Oaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Generating, Transmitting, and Distributing Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had tc the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to electric generating, transmitting and distributing systems in which current generated at a cent-ral or main station is transmitted to one o r more substations, one or more of which is provided with transforming apparatus having a rotary element.

The main objects of the invention are to relieve the current generating apparatus at the central or main station of excessive peak loads or demands beyond t-he normal capacity of such apparatus; to reduce the capacity of the apparatus required at the main station; to utilize the transforming apparatus with which substations of such a system are provided for transforming the current generated at the main stat-ion, to produce additional or increased current to meetsuch eX- cessive demands; to reduce the size and cost of conductors in the main or transmission line and the losses incident to the transmission of current through such line; to provide for the regulation of the total current generated in the entire system, including that supplied by the auxiliary engine or engines, by the governing device or devices of the generating apparatus at the main station according to the varying load or demand on the system; and generally to improve and to reduce the cost of installation and operation of such systems.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagram illustrating the embodiment of the invention in a system which may be composed of apparatus of different types arranged `in various ways according to the requirements of varying conditions.

The system illustrated by the diagram comprises a central or main station A, and several substations designated B, C, D and The main station is equipped with cur- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 27, 1911.

Patented Dec. 2,1913.

seria1No.6e2,591.

rent generating apparatus of any suitable type, consisting in the present case of two independent units each composed of a prime mover l, which may be a water wheel, steam or other engine, and an electric generator 2, which may be of any type, direct or alternating, single-phase or polyphase current, tri-phase alternators or generators being indicated in the diagram. Each generator in the present case is connected with one set of bus-bars 3, which are connected through a step-up transformer 4, with a second set of bus-bars 5, in the usual manner. One or more, in the present case two alternating current, main or transmission lines, each composed in the present case of three conductors 6, lead from the bus-bars 5 to the distant substations, one main line according to the diagram, supplying the substations B and C. and the other the substations D and The main line or lines may however, be directly connected with the bus-bars 3 or with the generators 2, without the interposition of the transformer 4.

The system may include any number of substations provided with various arrangements and kinds of transforming, distributing and translating devices, using alternating or direct currents of the same or different pressures, one or more of such substations being equipped with transforming apparatus, including a synchronous rotary element such as a rotary transformer 7. so called, or a motor generator 8 having either a synchronous or an induction motor, a motor generator with an induction motor 9 being indicated at station C. The generator may be alternating or direct current.

The transforming apparatus of the several substations is electrically connected with the main or transmission lines through transformers 10, any or all of which may be omitted. Distribution systems or lines, each comprising more or less conductors 1l, are connected with the transforming apparatus of the several substations. as shown by the diagram. Any number of distribution lines or systems may also be connected directly with any main or transmission line.

The several substations or distribution lines may be provided with various kinds of translating devices such as electric lights 12, or motors 13. Any or all of the substations equipped with rotary transforming apparatus, may also be provided with an auxiliary engine 14 other than an electric motor, such as a steam engine, steam or water turbine, but preferably an internal combustion gas or oil engine, which has a driving connection with the rotary element of the transforming apparatus 7 or 8 and is of less capacity than said transforming apparatus. Each auxiliary engine is adapted to supply a substantially non-fiuctuating power, the amount of which is predetermined and may be varied at will, but under ordinary conditions is preferably less than the total amount of power required to meet the maximum service demand upon the substation in which it is located. Each auxiliary engine is preferably provided with a safety governor' or with a sluggish governor, which will prevent its running away in case of accident or sudden relief from load, but will not interfere with the action of the governing mechanism of the main generating apparatus in the control and regulation of the total output of current in the entire system according to the varying load or demand thereon.

At each 0f the substations B and C a single transforming apparatus is shown in connection with a two-wire distribution line. At the substation D two rotary transformers are shown as connected in multiple with a two-wire distribution line, while at sulstation E two rotary transformers are shown in connection with a three-wire distribution line. Any substation supplied with an auxiliary engine may be equipped with rotary transforming apparatus of any type connected in any suitable manner with a distribution line or system of any kind, accor@ ing to the requirements of each case.

The generating apparatus or the prime movers at the main or central station A, are provided with governing mechanism or governors adapted to control and regulate the total production of current in the entire system, including that produced by the auxiliary engines, according to variations in the load or demands upon the system.

In the operation of the system, whenever the demand for power exceeds the normal capacity of the generating apparatus at the main station, or when the demand on any part of the system is greater than can be economically supplied from the main station, one or more of the auxiliary engines is put in service to supplement the power supplied from the. main station. When the demand for current on a distribution line is greater than can be economically supplied from the main station, it may be partially or completely supplied by the auxiliary engine at the substation with which such distribution line is connected, or by the auxiliary engine at some other convenient or available substation in the system.

TWhen the additional current produced by an auxiliary engine at any substation is insuiicient to supply the demand on the distribution line connected therewith, the variable excess will be supplied through the same transforming apparatus and the main line from the generating apparatus at the main station, the amount of such excess being regulated by the governing mechanism at the main station, according to the varying demand. iii/Then however, the current supplied by any auxiliary engine is more than sufficient to meet the demand on the distribution line with which it is directly connected, the excess varying according to the varying demand upon such distribution line, will be delivered from the transforming apparatus in which it is generated directly into the main line for use elsewhere in the system. Thus it will be seen that the transforming apparatus having a rotary element connected with an auxiliary engine of less capacity at any substation, besides its ordinary function of transforming current generated at the main station for distribution from that substation, also serves when the associated auxiliary engine is in operation, to generate current. l.Vhen the demand on the associated (llistribution line is just equal to the capacity of the auxiliary engine, the transforming apparatus operates as a generator exclusively for that line; when the demand is greater than the capacity of the engine the transforming apparatus operates both as a generator to the extent of the capacity of the engine and as a transformer for the excess of current required on the local line and generated at the main station; and when the demand is less than the capacity of the engine the transforming apparatus operates both as a generator and a distributer to the local and main lines.

As already stated, the invention may be embodied in systems comprising various types and arrangements of apparatus, according to varying conditions.

1 claim:

1. 1n an electric generating, transmitting and distributing system, the combination of a main generator, an alternating` current transmission line supplied with current from said generator, transforming apparatus electrically connected with the transmission line and including a synchronous rotary element, a distribution line connected with said transforming apparatus, and an auxiliary engine having a driving` connection with the rotary element of said transforming apparatus and of less capacity than said apparatus.

2. 1n an electric generating, transmitting and distributing system the combination of an alternating-current main generator, an alternating current transmission line supplied with current from said generator, transforming apparatus electrically connected with the transmission line and including a synchronous rotary element, a distribution line connected with said transforming apparatus, and an auxiliary engine connected with and adapted to supply to said transforming apparatus a substantially nonfluctuating power the amount of which may be varied at will for producing current in said transforming apparatus, the capacity of said transforming apparatus being greater than that of the auxiliary engine.

3. In an electric generating, transmitting and distributing system the combination of main generating apparatus, an alternating current transmission line adapted to be supplied with current by said apparatus, transforming apparatus electrically connected with said transmission line and including a synchronous rotary element, a distribution line connected with said transforming apparatus, and an auxiliary engine of less capacity than said transforming apparatus having a driving connection with said rotary element and adapted to supply power to said transforming apparatus in addition to that supplied by the main generating apparatus to meet increased demands upon the system beyond the normal capacity of said main generating apparatus.

4. In an electric generating, transmitting and distributing system, the combination of main generating apparatus, an alternating current transmission line adapted to be supplied with current by said apparatus, transforming apparatus electrically connected with said transmission line and including a synchronous rotary element, a distribution line connected with said transforming apparatus, and an auxiliary engine of less capacity than sai'd transforming apparatus connected with said rotary element and adapted to supply a predetermined amount of power for the generation of additional current in said transforming apparatus to supplement that supplied by the main generating apparatus to meet increased demands on the associated distribution line or on the main line.

5. In an electric generating, transmitting and distributing system, the combination of main generating apparatus, an alternating current transmission line adapted to be supplied with current by said apparatus, transforming apparatus electrically connected with said transmission line and including a synchronous rotary element, a distribution line connected with said transforming apparatus, and an auxiliary internal combustion engine of less capacity than said transforming apparatus having a driving conneet-ion with said rotary element and adapted to supply power to said transforming apparatus for the generation therein of current in addition to that supplied by the main generating apparatus to meet increased demands upon the system.

6. In an electric generating, transmitting and distributing system, the combination of main generating apparatus, an alternating current transmission line adapted to be supplied with current by said apparatus, transfo-rming apparatus electrically connected with said transmission line and including a synchronous rotary element., a distribution line connected with said transforming apparatus, and an auxiliary engine of less capacity than said transforming` apparatus connected with said rotary element and adapted to supply a predetermined amount of power less than that required to meet the maximum demand on the associated distribution line, the excess being supplied through said transforming apparatus from the main generating apparatus, and when the demand on said distribution line is less than that supplied by said auxiliary engine to produce in said transforming apparatus a surplus of current which is delivered to the transmission line for use elsewhere.

7. In an electric generating, transmitting and distributing system, the combination of main generating apparatus provided with governing mechanism, an alternating current transmission line adapted to be supplied with current by said apparatus, transforming apparatus electrically connected with said line and including a synchronous rot-ary element, a distribution line connected with said transforming apparatus and an auxiliary engine of less capacity than said transforming apparatus having a driving connection with said rotary element, the arrangement and connections of the apparatus being such that the total current generated in the system including that supplied by the auxiliary engine, will be regulated by the governing mechanism of the main generating apparatus according to the varying load or demand on the system.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK W. IVALKER.

"Witnesses:

CHAs. L. Goss, ALICE E. Goss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

